“The National Gallery,” London’s esteemed art museum in Trafalgar Square, was founded in 1824, and houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. Open everyday from 10am to 6pm, it is located where all roads in London lead, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom.

This 180 minute Wiseman documentary demonstrates a taste of what it is like to work behind the scenes at the world famous museum observing Dr. Nicolas Penny, the Gallery’s Director since 2008, hard at work in staff meetings regarding the day to day operations, budget costs, and the future of the museum, curators dissecting Old Testament Biblical scenes within the paintings to visitors, restorers, and the in-depth restoration process, art students sketching nude models, light meters, how they change the exhibition halls, activists stringing ‘Save the Arctic’ banners from the roof high above Trafalgar Square, and ballet dancers dancing with two paintings as their backdrop. Strangely enough, you don’t actually see portraits until the end, when they are displayed for approximately four seconds each.

“The length of time that a painting has to tell a story is very short. It is as long as the light strikes the painting keeping the viewer intrigued, while a movie has time to set up a plot, and one may be immersed in a book for 6 months or more of their life.”

“Under Our Skin” and “Under Our Skin Part 2” are now available on DVD for those interested in learning more about Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease, named after the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, is not only native to the Northeastern United States. In fact, the disease has been reported in ALL US states (except Montana), as well as, in Scandanavia (Norway), Europe (Spain, France, Austria, and Germany), Canada, and Australia.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control says that 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease each year, which is TEN times more than previously admitted by health officials. This is also higher than HIV and breast cancer combined.

Ask anyone who has Lyme Disease, and they will tell you that it is a very complicated, complex, and often chronic disease that is easy to catch and difficult to diagnose and treat. First of all, diagnostic test results are often false positive. Secondly, long term antibiotics often don’t eradicate it. It may often be misdiagnosed as early ALS, Parkinson’s, Encephalitis, Lupus, Lymphoma, or MS, and many times doctor’s believe the patient’s are malingering or fabricating. Some patient’s have had unnecessary surgeries and organs removed. It is not uncommon to find that infectious disease specialists don’t know how to treat it. The incubation period from infection to the onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks, but can be much shorter (days), or much longer (months to years). And, there is still controversy as to whether or not it can be transmitted via sexual contact or during pregnancy.

Things to consider if you suspect you or someone you know has been bitten by a tick, and is experiencing Lyme’s symptoms, ie. red bull’s eye skin rash, fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, joint pain, and headache:

You can not wait. Be seen by an Infectious Disease specialist as soon as possible. It will only get worse. If you aren’t feeling well, seek assistance as soon as possible.

There is a MD, PHD based out of Seattle, WA, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, who had Lyme’s himself, and understands naturopathic remedies as well.

In Germany, at the Inus Medical Center, there is a Lymphocyte Transformation Test that is 95% accurate at telling you what your levels are and what other bacterias you many also be carrying. Then the MD has a better understanding of what needs to be prescribed.

There are many strains of Lyme – Burgdorferi, Garinii, and Afzelii. This is important to know because each strain of Lyme tends to cause different problems in the body. Burgdorferi is known more for vascular and rheumatoid issues. Garinii causes cardiovascular problems and high blood pressure, and Afzelii impacts the central nervous system. Dr. Straube at the Inus Medical Center frequently sees patients with multiple strains of Lyme, including a mixture of Borrelia Burgdorferi, Afzelii, Garinii, Bavariensis, Spielmanii and Miyamotoi that is often misdiagnosed as lymphoma.

Climate change is one reason for this hybridization.
Previously Borrelias were confined to certain temperature ranges and habitats, but now with global warming, more bugs are found in more habitats, creating more complex forms of illness.

Apheresis treatment is NOT a cure, and consent needs to be obtained, but it removes the toxic protein that the Lyme can cause. The suggested amount is 2-4 treatments Tuesday and Thursday for one to two weeks (2 hours each treatment). Evidentally, it removes heavy metals and toxins from the blood like a filter.

The disease NEVER completely goes away, the trick is to keep
the immune system strong enough to keep the Lyme’s in a cage like a prisoner.

“The Theory of Everything,” by British director, producer, James Marsh, known for Man on Wire (2008), Project Nim (2011) and Shadow Dancer (2012), had it’s World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, 2014, and will premiere in New York City, tomorrow night.

Opening scene: Modern day, Stephen Hawking, born January 8, 1942, is driving his motorized wheelchair in circles on an oriental rug in a collegiate room.

The film depicts a college aged Stephen studying astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, with it’s main focus on his meeting a nice British girl named Jane, who was also a Cambridge student, studying Medieval poetry. Stephen, was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in his early 20’s, and was initially given only 2 years left to live. Thinking that his education, career, romance, and life would soon end, Stephen Hawking, beat the odds, and went on to advance in all areas. Jane, who wanted to stay with him for as long as he had left, married Stephen. The two were an unlikely pair, however, as the religious churchgoing, Jane, believed the universe was created by God, while Stephen, as we know, is a science based cosmologist, known for his studies that the origin and evolution of the universe are explained by a joining of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, which discusses how space and time should be considered together and in relation to each other. As time was a subject that touched him personally, the astrophysicist, wrote his PhD thesis on it and it’s relation to when the universe began and when it will end. His best selling book, “A Brief History of Time,” has sold over 10 million copies in 20 years.

Eddie Redmayne who starred in “My Week with Marilyn” and who portrays Stephen Hawking, has recently been nominated for BAFTA’s Rising Star award for his continued body of work.

Felicity Jones, a recent British Independent Film award nominee for best actress for her performance in Ralph Fiennes’ “The Invisible Woman,” is stunning as Jane Hawking.

The film was a word-of-mouth sensation at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard, and was a favorite at the recent Toronto Film Festival, where it received its North American premiere.

FORCE MAJEURE

In Swedish with English subtitles.

“I’m a failure of my own instincts!”-Tomas (Johannes Bah Kuhnke)

A Swedish family of four is on a ski vacation in the French Alps.
It is snowing, a ski resort photographer takes their photos at the top of the mountain, and captures them at their happiest. They enjoyed their first day of skiing and are getting ready for bed. There is a certain methodology to their movements.

It is not until they are at lunch the following day when they hear something that sounds like a fire cracker. They look up and see an avalanche rolling down the hill towards the restaurant. The first instincts of the children are to run in the opposite direction, while, Tomas gazes at the snow, thinking there is nothing to worry about. When he realizes that the avalanche is gaining momentum, he leaves his wife and two kids at the table and runs in the opposite direction without them. The avalanche does stop, and no one gets hurt. Tomas returns to the table, the snowy air clears, and they continue eating lunch in silence.

The kids are despondent, the wife is irritable, and the husband is just happy everyone is okay. But everything is not okay. His wife Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli) is upset that he left them behind, and she wants to go skiing alone the following day.

Can Tomas restore his families trust and faith in his ability to provide and protect for them?

Will the avalanche tear their relationship apart?

Opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, October 24, 2014 with a national rollout to follow.

“This is the proudest I’ve ever been of any project I’ve ever done.”-Richard Gere

“This film offers perspective and compassion.”-Oren Moverman

“I want people to watch this film, and get human.”-Ben Vereen

“This is a story of a story that never gets told.”-Jena Malone

Filmed entirely in NYC, with the camera lenses far out of sight, many passerby’s were led to believe that Richard Gere and Ben Vereen were, in fact, just two anonymous homeless men. Ben Vereen shared, “No one recognized us. They didn’t want to see us.”

“Time Out of Mind” is a fictional drama that allows the viewer to gain insight into a population that is so often ignored, without it actually being a documentary about the homeless. Richard Gere plays, George, a fairly high functioning homeless man, who in the first scene, we find sleeping in a bathtub, squatting in a dilapidated apartment building. He is kicked out by a construction worker when he comes in to do repairs.

“Do you have any money, because my wallet got stolen.”-George

From bench to bench, bar to bar, hospital Emergency Department to hospital Emergency Department, George, who stated, until recently, that he had been living with his lady friend named, Sheila, is unwanted everywhere he turns. Begging for change, asking for money to buy Metro Cards, riding the subways, listening to people cough and watching fights break out in the shelter systems, drinking hard alcohol to stay warm, eating at unsanitary food pantries, searching through garbage cans, seeking out churches, getting aggravated by social workers who “want what is best for him without getting to know who he really is first,” bonding with other homeless friends, and attempting to rekindle an estranged relationship with his daughter, eventually you discover what led George into the situation he is in.

“Wild,” based on the book and life of author, Cheryl Strayed, appropriately screened in the picturesque, mountainous surroundings at the Telluride Film Festival on Saturday, August 30th. The film helmed by “Dallas Buyers Club” director, Jean-Marc Vallée, stars Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern, and as Jean-Marc shared, “tells the story through Cheryl’s point of view”.

I thought I was the only one who was crying my eyes out the entire time, however, when I spoke with others at the end, I was relieved to hear that they were emotional as well. Don’t let this scare you.

I wouldn’t demean the film and say that it is a female version of “Into the Wild”. “Wild” is for anyone, who at any point in their lives, needed to change gears, leave their daily routine behind, and soul search for answers to something tragic that may have occurred.

Recently divorced and not working, Cheryl, decided to backpack 1,100 miles alone on the Pacific Crest Trail. During this time, she quickly learns the ropes in survival, hiking, and camping, all the while, reflecting back on her childhood, her relationship with her ailing mother, and the events that led up to her recent divorce from her husband.

Opening scene: Her big toe nail is black, bloody and falling off, one of her hiking shoes accidentally falls down the cliff and knowing that she cannot retrieve it, she throws the other one over the cliff, as well, SCREAMING IN DESPAIR.

Jump back to her preparing for the trip, phone calls to her ex, and a slovenly local landscaper, who came to her aide when she first started off on the trail and tried to talk her out of the unknown and dangers that might lurk ahead. Cheryl knew that she had to keep moving forward, that she had to do this for herself, that she had to face her demons with solitude, and prove that she was brave and capable.

Although her life reached some very dark places, her experience is relatable on a natural and human level. Reflecting back and journaling along the way, the trail is unpredictable in terms of the weather, the people, nature, animals, and events.

The music in the film was source music and not scored. They were careful not to use music while she was on the trail unless she was humming or singing.